Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, reported on Tuesday that young men aged 18 to 24 are the most targeted group for sextortion incidents, with over 800 complaints filed between July and December 2025. This alarming trend highlights significant gaps in how major tech companies address online sexual extortion.
Rising Complaints of Sextortion
According to the latest transparency report from eSafety, more than 2,206 complaints of sexual extortion were recorded in just six months. The report emphasizes a concerning increase in reports of this form of blackmail, particularly among younger users, as offenders exploit existing safety gaps.
The report analyzed data from major platforms including Instagram, WhatsApp, Apple, Meta, Google, and Microsoft. It found that Instagram and WhatsApp were most frequently cited, with over 1,300 complaints linked to them. For users under 18, iMessage and Snapchat were identified as common platforms for such threats.
Inadequate Responses from Tech Companies
Despite the advanced technologies available, the eSafety Commissioner criticized tech companies for their inadequate responses to sextortion incidents. “Offenders are continuing to exploit gaps in platform design, weak detection systems, and inconsistent safeguards,” Grant stated. The findings suggest that platforms are failing to implement effective detection technologies that could identify coercion scripts used by offenders.
Dr. Joanne Gray, an academic from the University of Sydney, echoed these concerns, stating that platforms are primarily reactive rather than preventive. “They are taking it down when they find it or are made aware of it, but they are not doing enough to prevent it from being there in the first place,” she noted.
Recommendations for Improved Safety Measures
The report calls for tech companies to adopt a more proactive approach to safeguard users, particularly children, from such abuses. Grant emphasized that platforms could enhance their safety measures by embedding protective features into their designs. “These technology companies are investing billions of dollars in innovating and creating all sorts of new technologies,” she said. “If they want to provide live-streaming services, then they need to do so in a way that is safe and responsible.”
- Over 2,206 complaints of sexual extortion reported
- Young men aged 18-24 are the most targeted
- Top platforms involved: Instagram, WhatsApp, iMessage, Snapchat
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